EP0928152B1 - Vacuum cleaner for household refuse - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile vacuum cleaner for waste housewares, comprising an internal structure having means for vacuuming air loaded with household waste through an air inlet, means for filter the intake air and retain the household waste it contains, means for evacuating the filtered air by at least one air outlet, and a protective structure intended to minimize or eliminate damage caused by impacts between the vacuum cleaner and other objects such as surrounding furniture.

We already know vacuum cleaners with a structure protection device, and in particular the device described in the document DE 30 42 894 A. The vacuum cleaner described in this document includes a casing mounted on casters and surrounded by a waterproof elastic band provided with air exhaust openings. Air drawn in and out of the engine is propelled by an opening between the rigid casing of the vacuum cleaner and the elastic band, so as to generate a layer of air under the band elastic, which constitutes a structure making it possible to absorb shocks between the vacuum cleaner and a piece of furniture. We see that this structure does not adequately absorb significant shocks, presumably because of the necessarily small thickness of the layer of air between the casing and the elastic band. On the other hand, the fixing the elastic band to the casing must be waterproof, which involves a relatively complex and costly realization.

Document DE 22 13 716 A describes another structure mobile vacuum cleaner for household waste in which the underside of the vacuum cleaner consists of a non-inflatable foam mattress air-filled cells forming a soft surface resting on the ground to avoid scratching the ground in the presence of grains of sand.

Document US 4,947,506 A describes a mobile vacuum cleaner for household waste whose housing is covered with covering elements reported non-inflatable, on top and on the periphery. The elements of reported cover consist of high density foam, to absorb the energy of impacts between the vacuum cleaner and objects surrounding.

Document US 4,533,370 A describes a vacuum cleaner structure mobile for household waste whose casing is surrounded by an element rigid peripheral tubular through which the outlet air flows the vacuum cleaner, producing a reduction in air outlet noise. The protruding surface of the peripheral tubular element can be covered with a soft cover, for example PVC resin, to simultaneously constitute a shock absorber. The structure is not inflatable.

It is noted that the known structures provide protection insufficient, and simultaneously increase the cost of production in unacceptable proportions in consideration of the result obtained.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new vacuum structure allowing simultaneous absorption effectively impacts between the vacuum cleaner and surrounding objects, and reduce the overall production cost of the vacuum cleaner.

Another advantage of the invention is to be able to give the vacuum cleaner of the various external forms, for the same structure internal.

It is also possible, according to the invention, to give the vacuum cleaner an external shape that can be changed at will, conveniently and inexpensive.

To achieve these and other goals, a vacuum cleaner according to the invention comprises an internal structure having means for sucking air loaded with household waste through an air inlet, means for filter the intake air and retain the household waste it contains, means for evacuating the filtered air by at least one air outlet, and a inflatable peripheral structure supplied with air by said outlet air; the inflatable peripheral structure is delimited by one or more several flexible peripheral walls whose envelope surrounds the entire internal structure of the vacuum cleaner including means for aspirating, filtering and evacuating air.

According to a preferred embodiment, a portion of the inflatable peripheral structure constitutes a support surface by which the vacuum cleaner can rest on the floor.

Preferably, the inflatable peripheral structure comprises a first free passage to the right of the air inlet, to authorize the connection of an air intake tube to the air inlet, and the first free passage is surrounded by a prominent inflatable lip in relation to which the air intake is recessed. This provides protection efficient, avoiding that the part of the internal structure close to the entrance air can come into contact with surrounding objects such as furniture.

In this case, the inflatable peripheral structure can possibly include a second free passage crossed by the cord of connection of the vacuum cleaner to the external power distribution network electric. The second free passage is also surrounded by a lip prominent inflatable, for the same reasons as the first pass free.

In an advantageous embodiment, the peripheral structure inflatable is in a single element delimited by a peripheral wall external continues.

Alternatively, the inflatable peripheral structure can comprising a first inflatable peripheral element and a second element inflatable device separated from each other by an annular groove likely to be crossed by the suction tube and / or by the cord of connection of the vacuum cleaner to the external power distribution network electric.

In this case, preferably, the two peripheral elements inflatables are mounted to rotate along an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the axis of the air inlet. The vacuum cleaner can then roll on the ground by the inflatable peripheral elements, which are retained on the internal structure by axial guiding means and can spin around a cylindrical surface of internal structure with interposition of a layer of air blown in by the vacuum cleaner.

According to another alternative, the inflatable peripheral structure may include a plurality of inflatable peripheral elements tubular distributed around the periphery of the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté en coupe longitudinale d'un aspirateur selon un premier mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté en coupe longitudinale de la structure périphérique gonflable dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un aspirateur selon le mode de réalisation de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un aspirateur selon un second mode de réalisation de la présente invention ;
• la figure 5 est une coupe longitudinale schématique d'un aspirateur selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une coupe longitudinale d'un aspirateur selon un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 7 illustre, à plus grande échelle, la liaison entre un élément de structure périphérique gonflable rotatif et la structure interne de l'aspirateur dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective de l'aspirateur selon l'invention dans le mode de réalisation de la figure 5 ; et
• la figure 9 illustre un aspirateur selon la présente invention dans un cinquième mode de réalisation.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

• Figure 1 is a side view in longitudinal section of a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a side view in longitudinal section of the inflatable peripheral structure in the embodiment of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to the embodiment of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal section of a vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 7 illustrates, on a larger scale, the connection between a rotary inflatable peripheral structural element and the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner in the embodiment of FIG. 5;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention in the embodiment of Figure 5; and
• FIG. 9 illustrates a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention in a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vacuum cleaner 10 essentially comprises an internal structure contained in a rigid hollow tubular casing 11 and comprising a turbine suction 12 driven by a motor 12a. Motor 12a is maintained in the casing 11 by means of a support 14 which defines an upstream chamber 15 and a downstream chamber 16. The upstream chamber 15 is shaped to contain a waste bag 13, and includes an air inlet 24. The support 14 is shaped to allow air to pass from the upstream chamber 15 to the downstream chamber 16 by passing it through one or more filters 26 which prevent unwanted particles from entering the motor 12a.

In this embodiment, the motor 12a and the turbine suction 12 are placed in the downstream chamber 16.

An upstream cover 18 closes the upstream end of the chamber upstream 15, and comprises the air inlet 24.

A downstream cover 17 closes the downstream end of the downstream chamber 16.

The downstream cover 17 may include a safety valve 19 arranged to allow the passage of air as soon as the pressure in the downstream chamber 16 is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

In the illustrated embodiment, the downstream cover 17 comprises at in addition to an electrical switch 20 for establishing or interrupting the power supply to the motor 12a. This power supply of the motor 12a electric is provided by a cord 21 for connection to the external network electric power distribution. The cord 21 can also be associated with a reel housed in the casing 11, not illustrated in the figures, allowing the selective retraction of the cord 21 outside the periods of use of the vacuum cleaner, in a manner known to those skilled in the art job.

The downstream chamber 16 communicates with the outside atmosphere by an air outlet, for example through the opening 29 formed in the casing 11.

The vacuum cleaner according to the invention further comprises a structure inflatable device 30, supplied with air by the air outlet 29.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the structure inflatable device 30 comprises a single structural element, and is delimited by a tubular inner wall 31 engaged around the casing 11, and by a flexible external peripheral wall 32. Walls 31 and 32 define an inflatable annular enclosure surrounding a space interior, open at two opposite ends 22 and 23 each constituting a free passage.

The first end 22 constitutes a first free passage at the right of the air inlet 24, to allow the connection of a tube air intake 25 at the air inlet 24. This first free passage 22 is surrounded by a portion of the outer peripheral wall 32 constituting a inflatable lip 27 which is prominent, relative to which the inlet air 24 is recessed.

The second end 23 constitutes a second free passage, crossed by the cord 21 connecting the vacuum cleaner to the external network electric power distribution. Similarly, the second pass free 23 is surrounded by a portion of the outer peripheral wall 32 constituting an inflatable lip 28 which is prominent.

As seen in Figure 1, the peripheral structure inflatable 30 is delimited by an external peripheral wall 32 flexible continuous whose envelope completely surrounds the entire structure internal of the vacuum cleaner comprising the means for sucking in the air 12 and 12a, the means for filtering the air 13 and 26, as well as the means for exhaust air 29.

In the present description and in the claims annexed, the term "envelope" designates the convex outer surface to minimum volume containing the inflatable peripheral structure. In the case of Figure 1, this envelope is formed by the outer surface of the external peripheral wall 32, connecting to the end planes 27a and 28a tangent to the respective edges of the lips 27 and 28. This envelope completely surrounds the entire internal structure of the vacuum cleaner and in particular the engine 12a, the turbine 12, the rigid casing 11, the covers 17 and 18.

By the fact that the inflatable structure 30 completely surrounds the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner rests on the floor by a part of the inflatable structure. It can slide on the ground, or roll in being in contact with the ground by the external peripheral wall 32 flexible of the inflatable peripheral structure 30.

The upstream cover 18 can advantageously be fixed on the casing 11 by screwing or by a bayonet type fixing, or with flanges. It thus gives access to the upstream chamber 15, for adaptation or removing the bag 13 or the filters 26.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the air inlet 24, formed in the upstream cover 18, is shaped to allow the adaptation of a suction pipe 25 such as a flexible pipe.

As seen in more detail in Figure 2, the structure peripheral 30, delimited by the external peripheral wall 32, comprises a tubular inner wall 31 shaped to fit on the wall outer casing of the casing 11.

The tubular inner wall 31 has one or more openings 33 coinciding with the openings 29 of the downstream chamber 16 of the casing 11 when the inflatable peripheral structure 30 is put in place around the housing 11. For example, the openings 33 are made under the form of four elongated slots regularly spaced on the wall tubular interior 31 of the inflatable peripheral structure 30. The openings 29 in the downstream chamber 16 are for example made up of several rows of holes arranged over the entire periphery of the casing 11, so that at least one of the tents 33 of the peripheral structure inflatable 30 coincides with one of the openings 29 of the casing 11 whatever or the angular position of the inflatable peripheral structure 30 around the housing 11.

The external peripheral wall 32 can be made in one synthetic material or a fabric partially allowing air to pass through. The edges of the outer peripheral wall 32 can be fixed to the ends of the tubular inner wall 31 by flanges 34 as this is illustrated in Figure 2, or by any other means of attachment adapted. The inflatable peripheral structure 30 is fully closed from so that air introduced into it can escape only through the openings 33 or through the material which forms the peripheral wall external 32. Furthermore, the external peripheral wall 32 is flexible so you can inflate or deflate depending on the air it contains.

In the case where the external peripheral wall 32 is made in an airtight material, advantageously a valve is provided. safety device 19 allowing part of the internal air to be released inflatable peripheral structure 30 as soon as the pressure inside the structure exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

We can design an inflatable peripheral structure 30 made of a flexible and extensible material, contained in a net flexible but not extensible which limits its deformation capacities under pressure. The net can be made of a material resistant to wear, which improves the protection of the peripheral structure inflatable against wear when rubbing on the ground.

When the motor 12a is supplied with electrical energy, it produces suction which increases the air pressure inside the downstream chamber 16. The air then enters the peripheral structure inflatable 30 through the openings 29 and the slots 33, and it inflates the external peripheral structure 30. The volume of the peripheral structure external 30 increases under this pressure until the structure is fully inflated. The air then escapes to the atmosphere outer either through the outer peripheral wall 32 or through appropriate openings.

When the peripheral structure 30 is inflated, the vacuum cleaner glides or rolls easily on the floor and can be moved anywhere what an effortless direction. The inflatable peripheral structure 30 advantageously replaces the wheels of a conventional vacuum cleaner, since she can easily walk through the doors, she can't overturn or get caught in the fringes of carpets or cause waste.

In the idle state, the volume of the vacuum cleaner according to the invention is reduced. In operation, the inflatable peripheral structure 30 can have a relatively large thickness, which ensures excellent shock protection.

It will be understood that, on the same internal structure of a vacuum cleaner, various forms of inflatable peripheral structures 30 can be adapted, in order to modify the aesthetics of the vacuum cleaner at a very low cost.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, we finds the essential elements of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention, identified by the same reference numerals: the motor 12a driving the turbine 12, an upstream chamber 15, a downstream chamber 16, the air inlet 24, an inflatable peripheral structure 30.

In this second embodiment, the peripheral structure inflatable 30 comprises a first inflatable peripheral element 30a and a second inflatable peripheral element 30b separated from one another by a annular groove 30c capable of being traversed by the suction tube 25 and / or by the connection cord 21 allowing connection the vacuum cleaner to the external electrical energy distribution network.

Each of the inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b is continuous enveloping shape such as a blind cylindrical shape, as illustrated in the figure.

The two inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b are rotatably mounted along an axis of rotation I-I generally perpendicular to the axis of the air inlet 24, which air inlet 24 being arranged in the peripheral groove 30c.

As in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 the structure internal of the vacuum cleaner is contained in a tubular casing 11 oriented along the axis I-I of rotation.

Each of the inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b is retained on the internal structure by axial guide means, and revolves around an end portion of the cylindrical casing 11, said end portion then being cylindrical of revolution.

Advantageously, provision can be made for forming an air space. blown by the vacuum cleaner between the inflatable peripheral element 30a and 30b and the outer surface of the housing 11.

The variant illustrated in FIG. 6 takes up the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 4, with two peripheral elements inflatable 30a and 30b. The difference is in the external form of inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b, which are caps spherical.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, we find also two inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b separated by an annular groove 30c allowing the passage of a suction tube connected to air inlet 24. Each of the inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b is annular in shape, with an end passage 22 or 23 surrounded by a prominent inflatable lip 27 or 28, as in the realization of figure 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a vacuum cleaner according to this embodiment, in a perspective view.

In the embodiments with two peripheral elements inflatable 30a and 30b, it can advantageously be provided that the elements inflatable devices 30a and 30b are rotatably mounted around the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner.

FIG. 7 illustrates a means ensuring the rotary mounting of the inflatable peripheral elements such as element 30a: the envelope inflatable hose, constituting the essential part of the element inflatable device 30a, is integral with a rigid tubular base 40 rotatably mounted around a cylindrical element 41 of the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner. The cylindrical element 41, of revolution, can be either an end section of a casing 11 described above, i.e. an element separate. One end of the base 40 is folded back to form a flange guide 42 engaged in an annular groove 43 of the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner. A space 44 is left between the cylindrical element 41 and the tubular base 40, as well as between the walls of the groove 43 and the guide flange 42. In operation, the air leaving the downstream chamber 16 of the vacuum cleaner through the opening 29 enters the peripheral element inflatable 30a through opening 33 to inflate the peripheral element inflatable 30a. When this element is inflated, air escapes through space 44, and then constitutes an air cushion promoting rotation without friction of the inflatable peripheral element 30a around the cylindrical element 41 of the internal vacuum cleaner structure. The flange guide 42 and the groove 43 constitute axial guide means which retain the corresponding inflatable peripheral element 30a on the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner. By its base 40, the peripheral element inflatable 30a pivots around the cylindrical element 41 of structure internal with interposition of an air gap blown by the vacuum cleaner and filling space 44.

Rotatable inflatable peripheral elements 30a and 30b constitute soft rolling means which, in relation to rollers rigid, improve rolling, avoid noise rolling, and facilitate the passage of obstacles such as thresholds doors or carpet edges. Such inflatable peripheral elements can be used regardless of the presence or the absence of the other characteristics described or claimed. Through example, it is advantageous to provide peripheral elements smaller section rotators, no longer providing complete protection against impact with the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner, but further guaranteeing the benefits of the mentioned soft rolling above.

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the inflatable peripheral structure 30 is formed a plurality of tubular inflatable peripheral elements 30d, distributed around the periphery of the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner such as a rigid cylindrical casing 11, the tubular peripheral elements 30d joining at the two ends 22 and 23 where the air outlet 24 is located and the cord outlet.

We will understand that we can very freely give others forms external to the inflatable peripheral structure 30, in choosing an attractive aesthetic appearance. It is thus possible to give the vacuum cleaner a characteristic three-dimensional shape in a advertising or other purpose.

In all cases, according to the invention, no rigid element protrudes from the convex envelope in which the wall (s) peripheral 32 flexible inflatable peripheral structure 30 are circumscribed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (11)

1. Vacuum cleaner for household refuse comprising an internal structure having means for aspirating (12, 12a) air laden with household refuse via an air inlet (24), means for filtering (13, 26) the aspirated air and retaining the household refuse that it contains, means for evacuating the filtered air via at least one air outlet (29), and an inflatable peripheral structure (30) supplied with air via said air outlet (29), characterised in that the inflatable peripheral structure (30) is delimited by one or more flexible outside peripheral walls (32) the envelope of which entirely surrounds all of the internal structure (12, 12a, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26) of the vacuum cleaner comprising the means for aspirating (12, 12a), the means for filtering (13, 26) and the means for evacuating (29).
2. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, characterised in that a portion of the inflatable peripheral structure (30) constitutes a bearing surface through which the vacuum cleaner can rest on the floor.
3. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the inflatable peripheral structure (30) includes a first free passage (22) in line with the air inlet (24) to enable connection of an air suction tube (25) to the air inlet (24), the first free passage (22) being surrounded by a protruding inflatable lip (27) relative to which the air inlet (24) is set back.
4. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, characterised in that the inflatable peripheral structure (30) includes a second free passage (23) through which passes a cord (21) for connecting the vacuum cleaner to the external electrical power distribution network, the second free passage (23) being surrounded by a protruding inflatable lip (28).
5. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the inflatable peripheral structure (30) is in one piece delimited by a continuous outside peripheral wall (32).
6. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the inflatable peripheral structure (30) includes a first inflatable peripheral member (30a) and a second inflatable peripheral member (30b) separated from each other by an annular groove (30c) through which a suction tube (25) and/or a cord (21) for connecting the vacuum cleaner to the external electrical power distribution network can be passed.
7. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, characterised in that each of the inflatable peripheral members (30a, 30b) is of annular shape, with an end passage (22, 23) surrounded by a protruding inflatable lip (27, 28).
8. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, characterised in that each of the inflatable peripheral members (30a, 30b) is of continuous enveloping shape such as a blind cylindrical shape or a spherical dome shape.
9. Vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the two inflatable peripheral members (30a, 30b) are rotatable about a rotation axis (I-I) generally perpendicular to the axis of the air inlet (24).
10. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 9, characterised in that the inflatable peripheral members (30a, 30b) are retained on the internal structure (41) by axial guide means (42, 43) and turn about a cylindrical element (41) of the internal structure with a layer (44) of air between them blown by the vacuum cleaner.
11. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the inflatable peripheral structure (30) includes a plurality of tubular inflatable peripheral members (30d) distributed at the periphery of the internal structure.

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